Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie
Hi there,
There is an issue with role permissions that is being worked on at the moment.
If you are having trouble with access or permissions on regional forums please post here to get access: https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058365403/you-do-not-have-permission-for-that#latest

Alfalfa Hay

  • 04-10-2018 1:57pm
    #1
    Bally Bull
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5 ✭


    Some advice please,

    I’m currently looking at feeding my cattle on solely Alfalfa hay this winter.
    The main reason for this is I can’t source silage local and to buy/ transport it its working out over 50 euro a bale.
    The local co-op has alfalfa at 210 euro a bale. (800kg bale)

    My questions,
    • Has anyone here used alfalfa?
    • Can you feed this as the sole diet?
    • How much alfalfa would a yearling (approx. 350kg) roughly eat?
    • How to feed it, it’s very dusty – looks like half of it would blow away if I left it in front of the feed barrier?

    Any information would be appreciated.


Comments

  • #2
    tonto8989
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5 ✭tonto8989


    Bally Bull wrote: »
    Some advice please,

    I’m currently looking at feeding my cattle on solely Alfalfa hay this winter.
    The main reason for this is I can’t source silage local and to buy/ transport it its working out over 50 euro a bale.
    The local co-op has alfalfa at 210 euro a bale. (800kg bale)

    My questions,
    • Has anyone here used alfalfa?
    • Can you feed this as the sole diet?
    • How much alfalfa would a yearling (approx. 350kg) roughly eat?
    • How to feed it, it’s very dusty – looks like half of it would blow away if I left it in front of the feed barrier?

    Any information would be appreciated.

    in the same boat would love someone who has done this to let us know!


  • #3
    Mooooo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,609 ✭✭✭Mooooo


    What stock have you to feed? It's apparently good for young stock or fresh calved cow's, milking ones anyway. Don't thing it can be fed on its own or at all to dry in calf cow's as too much risk of milk fever etc


  • #4
    Timmaay
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,396 ✭✭✭✭Timmaay


    Using a maize meal/barley mix of some sort (should be in around 250/ton) would be alot more cost effective, stretch out yourown silage with it.


  • #5
    ellewood
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 950 ✭✭✭ellewood


    Mooooo wrote: »
    What stock have you to feed? It's apparently good for young stock or fresh calved cow's, milking ones anyway. Don't thing it can be fed on its own or at all to dry in calf cow's as too much risk of milk fever etc


    Can young stock be fed it adlib??
    Ie with no meal or other silage/hay

    Just drop a bale in front of them and keep topping it up for the winter


Advertisement